Patent Application
20250003210
The present invention generally relates to framing brackets, and in particular, to framing brackets comprising an enclosed housing adapted to received a piece of lumber.
Professionals and amateur builders alike use brackets to connect pieces of lumber, including studs, posts, joists or any other manner of support beam. Whether the piece of lumber is to be positioned vertically, horizontally or any angle in-between, there are brackets on the market that can achieve the desired result. Brackets allow the user to hold a piece of lumber in the proper positon while still being adjustable until permanently secured in place. Once in place, the piece of lumber is fastened to the bracket, which provides additional mechanical support that is greater than simply fastening the piece of lumber directly in place with a screw or nail.
Brackets are especially useful in framing. Whether a roof, wall or floor, brackets provide increased support and make installation faster and easier. There are several types of brackets used in framing, including joist hangers, angled joist hangers, adjustable and non-adjustable post anchors, post-to-beam brackets, framing angles and seismic ties to name a few. Functionally, these brackets are used to accomplish the same goal: to attach a piece of lumber to a plate in a desired position. However, in form, brackets can vary tremendously based on the type of lumber to be fastened using the bracket and its desired final position.
Framing brackets generally comprise a region having between one and three sides to receive a piece of lumber for attachment and which vary in size depending on the piece of lumber the bracket is designed to engage. Framing brackets also possess attachment mechanisms which are used to secure the bracket to a frame or plate.
Speed prongs are pointed outcroppings on the face of a bracket that protrude away from the face and are positioned over an opening in the face of the bracket. Speed prongs are used to temporarily position and secure a bracket for easier and faster installation. Once the bracket is in position, the speed prongs are hammered down through the opening in the bracket face into the piece of lumber, holding it in place until the bracket is permanently attached by screw or nail.
A framing bracket provides advantages over attaching a piece of lumber directly to a frame or plate, for example, a bracket provides additional support to a piece of lumber when used to adjoin the lumber to a frame or plate. However, current framing brackets may require skill to use properly, impeding their use by the average homeowner. Thus, it would be desirable to develop a framing bracket that may readily be used by both the skilled carpenter and the less skilled home renovator.
A novel framing bracket has now been developed comprising a housing adapted to receive a piece of lumber, such as a stud, wherein the housing comprises sides which define an enclosed perimeter having opposing first and second openings, and at least two pairs of opposing fastening wings extending from the sides of the housing.
Thus, in one aspect, a framing bracket is provided. The bracket comprises:
This and other aspects of the invention are described herein in detail by reference to the following drawings.
A framing bracket (10) is provided comprising i) a housing (12) adapted to receive a piece of lumber, wherein the housing comprises at least 2 pairs of opposing sides (14a, 14b) which form an enclosed perimeter having opposing first and second openings (16a, 16b), and ii) at least two pairs of opposing fastening wings (18a, 18b) extending from opposing pairs of sides of the second opening (16b).
The housing (12) of the present bracket (10) comprises at least 2 pairs of opposing sides (14a, 14b), which form an enclosed perimeter. The enclosed perimeter of the housing (12) comprises opposing first and second openings (16a, 16b) adapted to receive the end of a given size of lumber. Preferably, the sides (14a, 14b) of the housing (12) form an enclosed perimeter that provides a friction fit for the piece of lumber for which it was sized. A friction fit is a form of fastening between two tight fitting mating parts, i.e, the housing perimeter and the end of the piece of lumber that produces a joint, which is maintained in position by friction when the parts are pushed together. Thus, the sides (14a, 14b) of the housing (12) inhibit movement or shifting of the piece of lumber once placed in the housing (12) of the framing bracket (10). Having opposing first and second openings (16a, 16b) allows the lumber to be received within the housing (12) at the first opening (16a) and extends within the housing (12) to the second opening (16b) such that it comes into direct contact with a base or plate to which it is to be attached. In an embodiment, the first and second openings are similar in shape and size, or the same.
In addition to the friction fit of the lumber within the housing (12), the depth of the sides (14a. 14b) of the housing (12) are selected to further stabilize the piece of lumber received within the housing (12). The depth of the sides (14a, 14b), thus, may vary with the size of the lumber being used. Sides of a greater depth may be required to stabilize lumber having a larger cross-sectional area. However, the depth of the housing sides (14a, 14b) preferably does not impede receipt of the lumber within the housing (12), for example, the depth of the sides (14a, 14b) is not too long so as to interfere with receipt of a piece of lumber within the housing (12). In one embodiment, the sides (14a, 14b) of the housing (12) having a depth of at least about 1 inch to stabilize a stud, such a 2″×4″ stud.
The perimeter of the housing (12) at the first and second openings (16a/b) may assume various shapes in order to receive various types of lumber. In one embodiment, the perimeter may be rectangular in shape and sized to receive standard lumber sizes such as 2″×2″, 2″×3″, 2″×4″, 2″×6,″ 4″×4″ or any other size of lumber used for framing. In other embodiments, the perimeter is adapted to receive beams, posts, rails, spindles and the like. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the perimeter does not require strict 90-degree corners. In some embodiments, the corners may be rounded and in other embodiments, the perimeter sides may be rounded as well.
The present framing bracket (10) further comprises at least two pairs of opposing first and second fastening wings (18a, 18b) extending from opposing sides (14a, 14b), respectively, of the second opening (16b) of the housing (12). The opposing pairs of fastening wings (18a, 18b) anchor the bracket (10) to a base or plate in two directions. Each opposing pair of fastening wings (18a, 18b) are oriented differently which allows them to attach to a base or plate on different surfaces thereof, thereby providing anchoring support in multiple directions. This orientation of the two pairs of opposing first and second fastening wings (18a, 18b) prevents the housing (12) from sliding or twisting. Each fastening wing of the first pair of opposing fastening wings (18a) extend from a side of a first pair of opposing sides (14a) of the second opening (16b) at an angle to the side (14a). In an embodiment, the first pair of opposing fastening wings (18a) extend from a side of a first pair of opposing sides (14a) of the second opening (16b) in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the side (14a). Each fastening wing of the second pair of fastening wings (18b) extend from a side of the second pair of opposing sides (14b) of the second opening (16b) along the same plane as the side of the second pair of opposing sides (14b). In an embodiment, the first pair of opposing sides (14a) are essentially perpendicular to the second pair of opposing sides (14b). The opposing pairs of fastening wings are sized to attach to standard lumber sizes such as 2″×2″, 2″×3″, 2″×4″, 2″×6″, 4″×4″ or any other size of lumber that may be adjoined using the present bracket, preferably without extending beyond the edges of the base or plate to which the lumber is attached. In one embodiment, the fastening wings may be about 1 inch up to about 4 inches long from the side of the housing. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the first pair of opposing wings (18a) may be of a different size to the second pair of opposing wings (18b). In addition, each wing of the first opposing pairs of wings (18a) may be differently sized, and each wing of the second opposing pairs of wings (18b) may be differently sized.
The opposing pairs of fastening wings are shaped to permit stable attachment of the framing bracket to the base or plate to which a piece of lumber (such as a stud) is to be fastened. The shape of the fastening wings may comprise squared edges that line up with the edges of the base/plate, or may comprise rounded or slanted edges that do not line up with the base/plate. The fastening wings may extend from side of the bracket along the full length of a given side (as illustrated in the figures), or may extend from the side of the bracket along only a partial length of a given side provided that the fastening wing provides the requisite stability to the lumber in position within the bracket.
The pairs of opposing first and second fastening wings (18a, 18b) may optionally each contain at least one pre-drilled hole (20) that allows for a screw, nail, staple or other fastening means to pass through and secure the bracket (10) to a base or plate. Alternatively, the fastening wings (18a, 18b) may include markings (22) for nail or screw holes to be drilled prior to use, or the bracket (12) may be provided with instructions regarding the placement of nail/screw holes to be drilled into the fastening wings (18a, 18b).
Each fastening wing of opposing first and second fastening wings (18a, 18b) may additionally optionally comprise one or more speed prongs. The speed prong allows for quick and temporary attachment of the framing bracket to a base, plate or to the lumber, which in turn enables the user to use both hands to permanently attach the lumber to a base or plate.
The pairs of opposing first and second fastening wings (18a, 18b) are not limited in design to be fastened to a plate that has flat, level and square surfaces. As one skilled in the art would appreciate, the pairs of opposing first and second fastening wings (18a, 18b) may be designed to fasten the framing bracket (10) to a plate which is not level, having some degree of curvature or which surface is uneven and comprises bumps, indents or other irregularities.
To aid in placement of the framing bracket (10), the housing (12) may have one or more viewing windows (26). e.g. a hole formed in the bracket, that permits the user to position the bracket at a particular, predetermined site on the plate. The user, thus, may mark the desired location for the center of the framing bracket (10) on the base or plate, and place the bracket (10) in position by viewing the mark through the viewing window (26) on the bracket. The viewing window (26) may be positioned at any appropriate place on the bracket (10) that permits positioning of the bracket (10). In one embodiment, the viewing window (26) is positioned centrally within one or both fastening wings of the second pair of fastening wings (18b) which are in the same plane as the housing sides (14b).
The present framing bracket (10) is made of a material appropriate for use as a building material, including wood, metal, plastic and composite materials. In one embodiment, the framing bracket is made of galvanized steel which offers advantages over other materials such as low manufacture costs, reliable protection against corrosion and long life expectancy. Galvanized steel also has a high shear strength in comparison to other materials, as well as high standard yield strength and tensile strength. Different parts of the framing bracket (10) may be made of different materials, for example, the housing (10) may be made of galvanized steel, while the fastening wings (18a, 18b) are made of a different material. Preferably, the framing bracket (10) is made entirely of the same material, and is thus, integrally formed.
While a fully intact framing bracket according to the invention is preferred, it is envisioned that the bracket (10) may be adapted to provide a housing which is open at one or more sides, but which is adapted to be closed around the end of a piece of lumber to form an enclosed perimeter by the use of a mechanism such as a latching mechanism, adhesive, magnetism, speed prong(s), welding or the like. In one embodiment, a blank (100) for use to form the bracket (10) is provided, as represented in
During installation of the framing bracket (10), the housing (12) of the bracket (10) receives a piece of lumber for which it is sized. The first opening (16a) of the framing bracket (10) first receives the end of the piece of lumber, which passes through the housing (12) to the second opening (16b) from which the opposing pairs of first and second fastening wings (18a, 18b) extend. Once the piece of lumber is in position, the framing bracket is positioned such that the first and second fastening wings (18a, 18b) are in contact with the base or plate to which the piece of lumber is to be attached. The bracket is positioned and fastened in place using speed prongs or any other method appropriate for temporarily fastening the framing bracket (10) to the plate. Once temporarily fastened, the piece of lumber can be permanently fastened to the base or plate. To fasten the piece of lumber to the plate, multiple mechanisms can be used. In embodiments, nails or screws can be inserted above the sides (14a, 14b) of the housing (12), and angled downward such that the nails or screws penetrate both the piece of lumber and the plate, a method called toenailing. In another embodiment the sides (14a, 14b) of the housing (12) possess a hole which allows a screw or nail to pass through and penetrate the piece of lumber. In yet another embodiment, at least one domed nailing guide formed on at least one side (14a, 14b) of the housing (12) allows for a nail or screw to pass through the side (14a, 14b) of the housing (12) at an angle appropriate to penetrate both the piece of lumber and the plate.
The present novel framing bracket (10) provides numerous advantages over traditional framing brackets available on the market. An advantage provided by the framing bracket (10) is that it enables professionals and amateur builders alike to quickly and easily temporarily place a piece of lumber such as a stud stably in position on a base or plate, permitting the user to use two hands to permanently fix the stud in place. To provide this stability, the bracket (10) comprises pairs of fastening wings (18a, 18b) oriented in different positions against the base or plate to which the lumber is to be fastened. In addition, the enclosed housing (12) of the present framing bracket (10) may be adapted to provide a friction fit between the piece of lumber and the bracket and/or to provide other attaching means (such as speed prongs). Not only does this provide additional support to the joint, but also prevents side-to-side movement which causes wear on the piece of lumber. Having an enclosed perimeter housing also prevents the piece of lumber from twisting or loosening from its permanently fastened location, providing support in different orientations to the base.
